From Deakin to the Desert: My week at Sports Business Classroom

• Intern Jack was lucky enough to attend the Sports Business Classroom in Las Vegas at Summer League
• He gained hands-on experience in scouting and analytics alongside NBA executives and mentors
• The experience reinforced his ambition to build a long-term career in sport

As an intern at basketball.com.au and final-year Sport Management student at Deakin University, I’ve always known I wanted to work in the business of sport.

What I didn’t expect was that my passion would take me all the way to Las Vegas and inside one of the most exciting basketball environments on the planet.

Earlier this year, I was one of a few Deakin students lucky enough to be selected to attend the Sports Business Classroom program in Vegas, an immersive week-long experience that runs alongside the NBA Summer League, and is led by respected NBA minds Eric Pincus and Bobby Marks.

Hosted at the Thomas & Mack Center, SBC brings together students, scouts, front office staff and industry leaders for a crash course in what it really takes to work in professional basketball.

It was truly incredible to be around so many smart people in the world of basketball.

I travelled with a group of ten fellow Aussies and our Deakin professor Pete Williams, who helped us make the most of every moment.

Over the week, I dove deep into scouting & video analytics, which was my major that I chose.

Sitting in sessions led by NBA executives, breaking down game film, and role-playing front office decisions gave me a real glimpse into the level of detail and discipline behind every roster move.

The access was unreal.

We heard directly from NBA Commissioner Adam Silver, coaches like Philadelphia's Nick Nurse and Cleveland's Kenny Atkinson, championship-winning Oklahoma City Thunder GM Sam Presti, and top 2026 draft prospect AJ Dybantsa.

Each session gave me new insights, not just about basketball, but about leadership, preparation and pressure, which are attributes I hope I'll take with me throughout my career.

And yes, we got to watch plenty of games.

Sitting courtside for a Lakers game - and seeing Bronny James Jr. and Dalton Knecht up close - was something I won’t forget anytime soon.

But what made this experience truly special was the people.

I met students from across the world who were just as passionate as me. I connected with mentors and professionals who were generous with their time and advice. It made me feel like the basketball industry isn’t just something to study, it’s something I can actually be a part of.

I came home from Vegas motivated, clearer on my career path, and more connected than ever.

For any student with dreams of working in sport, I can’t recommend this opportunity enough.

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